Dry-pipe water-service fire-extinguisher system.



R. L. OOONEY. DRY PIPE WATER SERVICE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1911.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913 2 SHEETS-51131 1.

zwzm RfLGOONBY. DRY PIPE WATER SERVICE FIRE BXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

v ARPLIOATION FILED APR.22, 1911. 1 975 021, J Patented Oct. 1, 1913.

. 2 SHEETS-11171?! 2 open distributing at the time of a fire.

' nonnn'rt. coonav, or A'rIQAIt'rA, enonem.

I DRY-PIPE WATEH-SERVIGE FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedflct.Z19 1 Application filed April 22, 1911. Serial No; 622,653.

lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dry pipe water service he extinguisher 2 systems.

One'of the objections to this class of fire PIOlZQCtIOII service is the delay which intei'- venes between the moment of opening of the distributing valve or sprinkler head at the time of a fire, and the moment at whichvthe water is delivered upon the fire through the valve or sprinkler head.

This delay may be divided into two periods,

the firstandfprincipal one of which is cork cernedvwith the opening of the dry pipe valve, and the second of which is concerned with the passage ofwater from the dry pipe valve to the open distributing valve or sprinkler head. v

The first period of delayv referredto results from the facts that the dry pipe valve cannot open until the pressure of air in the distributing system has fallen below some determined absolute degree, usually comparativelysmall; that the said pressure of air is normallymaintained, at a comparatively hig degree in the distributing system; and that the only vent through which the air may-pass in order that the pressure may be reduced to the degree necessary to provide for the opening of the. dry pipe valve is at that particular distributing valve or sprinkler head which happens to be open This principal period of delay is greater or less'inaccordance wlth the extent of the system and the character eiiicient type in use,

of the dry pipe valve. but in all cases, even where the dry pipe valve may be of the most the delay is-material and is sometimes fraught with serious consequences.

The second additional period of delay referred to and which is concerned with the 5 v v pipe valve i simply for the purpose of. convenience, an

passage of the water from'the dry head, is caused by a circumstance which in turn results from the nature of the ordinary dry pipe water service system, as set forth in the fore oing paragraph. This circumstance whic l materially increases the duration of the interval necessary for the passage of the water is found in the fact that the degree of pressure at which the dry pipe valve'opens, is too low, or subsequent to the opening of the dry pipe valve, becomes too low, to prevent the "utter, it passes through the distributing system, from backing up in the closed leaders or laterals and trapping the air remaining therein until the pressure of the trapped anequals the pres sure of the water. The passage of the water from the dry pipe valve to the open distributing valve or sprinkler head is thus prehave. many useless and time consuming ramifications.

The object of the present. invention is to reduce as far as possiblg the delay referred to in order that the water may reach the scene of the fire at the earliest possible moment after the opening of a distributing valve or sprinkler head. In attaining this object the invention is concerned primarily and objectively with shortening the preliminary and principal period of delay, referred to, and incidentally with shortening the subsequent period of delay referred to.

T ovvard the attainment of the object stated the invention proposes a system which embodies the combination with the usual elements, viz., the water service pipe, the dry pipe valve, the distributing pipe and its leaders or laterals and the distributing valves or sprinkler heads, of an additional elen'icnt, viz., a means which operates to pro duce a renting of a portion of the air in the system immediately'in advance of the dry pipe valve and vconcurrently with and indepeudently of the venting of the air at the opendistributing valve or sprinkler head.

In" the foregoing, as well as in the succeeding paragraphs, the word air as ap plied to the pressure medium normally contained. in the distributing system is used be understood as includingvin its scope any elastic fluid pressure medium which it mayibe desired to employ.

' Embodiments of the invention are llustrated by way of example in the accompanyof a'dry pipe water ing' drawings, wherem- Figure l is a diagram, partly in section,

service fire extinguisher system in accordance with the present invention. This figure also shows'ivhat isthought :'ment, and Fig. 3 is a to be a preferred constructibn of the additional element of the system. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing a slightly modified form of construction of the additional elesectional view showin a further-modified construction of the additional element.

the improved system,

This valve is, as usual, interposed between the water service pipe A and the distrihutingpipe C, its connection with these pipes as well as its valve head b immediately 0pposed'to the column of water in the pipe A being shown only diagrammatically.

The distributing system Qcomprehending the pipe C and its leads or laterals c) is, as usual, charged with air at some determined degrcc of pressure; This static pressure holds the dry pipe valve in restraint by normally preventing, directly or through any desired intermediary, the unseating of the valve head I). W hen, however, any one of the valves 0' is opened, the pressure in" the system is vented at this open valve and the operation of the dry pipe valve, 0., the unseating of the head Z) is consequent, whereby water from the pipe A flows through the pipe C and the open leader or lateral c, issuing at the open valve In the known s stems the dry pipe valve may be characterized as directly consequent to 2. 6., dependent in the first instance, upon the venting of air at the open sprinkler head or distributing valve.

11 the present system, while this venting of air at the open sprinkler head or distributlng valve is the first and primary ause of operation, yet the unseating of the valve head bis not directly consequent tothe ventmg of air at the open 'sprinklerwhead or distributing pipe in the sense in which this expression has been defined but sense, directly consequent to the operation are the ,water service- 'one another and both of which tie-11d and said pipe,

is, in such of the element D and the operation of tin element 1) is, in the same sense, directly consequent to the venting of air at the open sprinkler head or distributing valve. The operation of the element D is thus immediate with respect to the opening of a valvc c and mediate with respect to the operatlon of the dry pipe valve.

The element l) constituting the means for quickening the operation of the systerdin the manner generally referrred to 1s, with relation to the valve 0, in the nature of an auxiliary vent valve and is operatively con nected to the distributing pipe C directly in advance of the-dry pipe valve B whereby a substantial fall of pressure in the distributing pipe consequent to the opening of a valve 0' immediately results in the operation of the element D. The connections betweenthe element D and the pipe 0 are, in the preferred form of construction,furthermore of such nature that while they 'efiiciently provide for the operation of the element D under the circumstances stated, they also provide against ,a premature o eration of said element as a consequence 0 minute reductions of pressure in the distributing'pipo incident to any slight leakage.

The element D in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 consists essentially'of a casing 1 having a vent opening 2, a valve head 3 normally closing the vent opening, and connections 4 and 5 between the casing and the distributingpipe C. The valve head 3 is provided at the upper end of a stem 6, slidable through a suitable guide 7 secured within the casing and carrying at its lower enda float'8 which has a low degree of buoyancy. The float '8 is normally supported by a body of liquid 9, e. 9.,- confined in a ing .1. The hers 10 and .water, which is vessel 10 supported in the cas- 10 which communicate with are partially filled with the liquid 9. The chamber 10 serves toconfine the float 8 and the chamber vessel 10 comprises two chain 10 forms in ellect a downward and angular continuation of the connection 4, communieating directly with the latter and being separated from the chamber/10 by a depending partition 11. operation of the The connection 4 communicates with thedistributing pipe at apoint in advance of the dry pipe valvea-nd serves, in amanner to be explained, to distributing pipe to the casing 1 from which it is' ventedthrough the, opening 2. The connection 5 which communicateswith the distributing pipe at a point in advance of transmit airfrom the lgo the pointof communication of the connec-- V 4 is in the .nature Ola byass and is provided with a diaphragm l2 aving an aperture of pin-hole diameter. V

weasel preferredt-o employ a check'valve 18 i1'avmunication of the connection 5 and said pipe and serves to block oil that portion C of the distributing pipe which is immedivIM- ately in advance of'the dry pipe valve, which includes the points of communication of the connections l and?) and which extends to the valve 13.

The air with which the distributing svstent is charged fills the blocked off portion 0' of the distributing pipe, the connection 4, the casing 1, and the connection 5, air being passed from the portion of the pipe C in advance of the valve 13' to the portion G of said pipe and the connection a through the aperture in the valve 13, and being passed from the distributing pipe portion C .to the casing 1 through the aperture in the diaphragm 12. The pressure normally in the casing 1 and the distributing pipe ortion C is thus equal to the pressure in the pest of the distributing system. The operation, in detaih'is as follows: At the time of a fire a valve 0 is opened and thereupon air connnenccs to vent at'such open valve. Immediately upon the venting of air at the sprinkler head a proportionate reduction of pressure occurs throughout the length of the distributing pipe, including the port-ion C of said pipe. This fall of pressure is permitted in the portion C owing to the arrangement of the valve 13 whichat this time is lifted from its seat by the expansive action of the pressure in the portion C. This fall of pressure is not, however, proportionately trai'ismittedfto the air in the casing 1, since the diaphragm 12 is fixed, the pin hole in said diaphragm is too valve.

small for this purpose, and the liquid 9 establishes a seal. Immediately, therefore, upon a reduction of the pressure in the portion C, the pressure in the casing 1 becomes unbalanced and acts to shift the body of liquid 9, the said body of liquid under the influence of the pressure inthe casing 1 being then forced through the connection 4 from whence it passes into that portion of the distributing pipe which intervenes between said ccnnection 4 and the dry pipe "When the body of liquid is thus shifted two new conditions are caused; first, the valve head 3 is moved to uncover the opening '2, since the float 8 descends consequent: to the shifting of the body of liquid. and second, the seal normally maintained by the body of liquid, is disestablished and the communication of the distributing pipe with the casing 1 nowuninterrupted through the piped. Thereupon such pressure as. remains in the blocked off portion .C immediately passes into the casing 1,

issuing from thence through the opening 2,

' which it may be noted has a larger diameter 'than the opening of the sprinkler head;

Immediately that the pressurein the portion C thus exhausts through the opening 2 the valve 13 is closed against-its seat 14 by the greater pressure still remaining in the rest of the distributing system and thus the venting of this. remaining" pressure through the opening 2 is prevented to any appreciable extent. At the same time the dry pipe valve opens and water flows into the portion C, raises the valve 13-andpasses through the distributing system. The Water as it passes through the portion C also fill ' backs up in the connection 4:, again filling the chambers 10 and 10", reestablishing the seal and causing the valve head 3 to close against the opening 2. Since the valve 13 when it has been closed by the pressure remaining in the system, will not pass any appreciable degree of said pressure to. the portion C, this remaining pressure necessarily has its only substantial exit at the open sprinkler head or distributing valve. on ()n this account, as well as by reasoned the fact that the closing of the valve '13, by the pressure remaining in the system and the opening ofthe dry pipe valve, are place practically atthe samejnstant and immedi aoately upon the routing of the pressure in the portion C, whereby'only a momentary interval elapses before the Water passes the valve 13, the pressure remaining in the system will still, during the passage of thewaice tcr through the distributing pipe, have such degree as to prevent the water from backing up in the leaders or laterals and consequently the passage of the water to the open sprinkler useless and time consuming ramifications.

While the valve 13 is not absolutely necessary to the liicient performance of the function of the element 1) its use is preferable since it provides for increasing the speed of no operation of the system by positively defining a certain restricted area (the portion 0) directly in advance of the dry pipe valve which is immediately and absolutely vented and by positively. separating this its succeeding'the operation of the element 133 head will be direct and without. 1%.

charged, but do not allow of such passage to any appreciable or material extent during the ope ation of the system. These apertures are al 'of further utility in that they provide for the normal equalizationof the pressure throughout the extent of the system and consequently rev'entfthe element D from being afi'ecte gradual. reductions consequent to leakage. For this reason the element D cannot have any premature operation.

The construction of the element D shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in F 1 only as to details of organization. In this case the vent hole 2 is' formed in an end wall of the box and the'valve head 3 is provided at the end of a lever 15 which at its other end is pivoted to the stem '6 of the float 8. The lever 15 adjacent the valve head, is provided withan arm 16 which is pivoted to the adjacent wall of the casing at a point below the opening 2. In other respects the construction is similar to that shown in Fig.1.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the vent opening is arranged as in Fig. 2 and the valve head 3 is provided on a lever 17 pivoted by means of an arm 18 to the adjacent wall of the casing at a'point below the opening 2. In this case the chamber 10 pre viousl referred to is not employed as a sepa.-' rate e ement, its main function being served to the lower portion of the casing in which t ebody of liquid 9 is confined. The said lower portion of the casing is divided by a partition wall 19 into liquid containing chambers 1 and 1 which'have a relation similar to the chambers 10 and 10 previously described. The connection 4 communicates directly with the casing at a point tion of a float.

above the partition wall 19 and in this instance serves additionally the function of the connection 5 shown in the preceding examples. For this purpose an inwardly swinging check valve 20 having a pin-hole aperture is provided above the partition wall 19,

the lower edge of this check valve resting upon the wall. The lever 17 carries at its which, when out the function of a free end a ball member 21 weight and when immersed or partially immersed in said body of liquid, has the func supported in a position to close the valve head 3 by a latch member 22 a lug 23 upon which the extremity of the lever 17 normally engages and which has a beveled under side. The latch member 22 is pivotally supported at its upper end and its lower end. projects loosely through an open ing in a piston stem 24.

by slight or 'minute and The lever 17 is normally provided with The latter works in a guide lug 25 and carries a head 26 which worksin a suitably outlmed opening formed beneath the wall 19', the said wall having a lug 27 w arrest the outward movement of the piston head 26. In this construction the reduction of pressure in the distributing pipe results in theiunbalancing of the pressure in the casing l, the pin-hole in the valve 20 being too small topass any appreciable or substantial degree of pressure from the easing 1 to the distributing pipe.- When the pressure in the casing l is unbalanced it: shifts the body of liquid 9 and in such action produces an outward movement of the piston head 26 as is obvious? Thereupon the member 22 is-withdrawnirom engagement with the free end of the lever 17 and the latter is permitted to drop, carrying therewith the valve head 3 and uncovering the opening 2. The pressure in the portion C of the distributing pipe then passes through the pipe 4:, lifting the valve 20 and into the easing 1, issuing from the latter at the vent hole 2. The dry pipe valve is then released and as the. waterpasses up the d.

the pressure is shunted, so to speak, through said element. For this reason the element D may be readily applied to any existing type of dry pipe water service system which ma already have been installed and. such application does not involve any modification of or substantial changes in the original installation. v c

If for any reason whatever, now unforeseen, the element D should fail to work, the

hinting pipe, 1t backs up into the casing 1, through tlih. connection 4, first causing the closing of the" that the element 1 operation of the system will proceed in the manner usual with the existing types of construction, since the mediate relation of the element D in so far as the eigample shown is concerned, is found in its order of operation rather than in its physical structure or assemblage.

The invention is believed to be of considerable novelty within its particular field, for which reason no specific description herein contained is intended to put any limitation upon the scope of the appended claims which does not inhere in the language thereof.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a dry pipe water service fire extinguisher system, in combination, a water service pipe, at distributing pipe provided with a valvd controlled outlet,-a dry pipe valve interposed between the water service guisher system, in combination, a 'water nor-anal.

pipe and the distributing pipe, the, dis-' tributing pipe containing an elastic fluid under pressure which normally restrains the operation of the drypipe valve and the operation of the latter being consequent to a rrductiim of the pressure in the distributing pipe, means operable consequent to the opening of the valve in the distril'iuting pipe for venting pressure from said distributing pipe concurrently with and independently ol' the venting of pressure at said opendistributing pipe valve, the means being connected to the" distributing pipe at one side thereof and a check valve lo ated in the distributing pipe in advance of the means.

In. a dry pipe water service fire extin- 'eration of the latter being consequent to a reduction of the pressure in the distributing p pe, a casing arranged at one side of the distributing pipe, a connection between the casing, a partition defining two commu-- nicating liquid chambers within the casing, a body of liquid partially filling the two chambers, the casing receiving pressure from the distributing pipe, means for preventing the pressure in the casing from passing to any appreciable" extent into the distributing pipe When the pressure in the latter is reduced consequent to the opening of the valve in the distributing pipe where by the pressure in the casing at such time shifts the body of liquid, the casinghaving a vent opening, a valve head normally closing the vent opening, and means operable consequent to the shifting'of the body of liquid for causing the valve head to uncover the vent opening, the pressure in the distributingpipe passing through the casing and through the vent openingwhenthe latter is uncovered.

In a dry pipe water service fire extinguisher system, in combination, a Water service pipe, a distributing'pipe provided with a valve controlled outlet, a dry pipe valve interposed between the water service pipe and the distributing pipe, the distributing' pipe containing an elastic fluid under lower ends, a float in one of the chambers,

scgonnection leading from the other chamnormally closethe vent opening and a second connection between the casing and the distributing pipe, the second connection l)( in g' man a 'iaauvance of" the first connec- I tion and containing a fixed diaphragm having a pin-hole aperture.

4. In a dry pipe water service fire ext-inguisher system, in combination, a water service pipe,.a.distributing pipe provided with a valve controlled outlet, a dry pipe valve interposed between the water service pipe and the distributing pipe,the distributing pipe containing an elastic fluid under pressure which normally restrains the operation of the drywpipe.rvalveqand the operation of the latter being consequent'do a reduction of the pressure in the distributing pipe, a casinglocated immediately in advance of the dry pipe valve and having a vent opening, an auxiliary valve normally closing the vent opening, means operable co11- sequent to a reduction of pressure in the distributing pipe for causing the auxiliary valve to uncover the vent opening, and a connection through which the pressure in the distributing pipe passes into the casing when the vent opening of the latter is uncovered.

In a dry pipe water service fire extinguisher system, in combination, a water service pipe, a distributing pipe provided with a valve controlled outlet, a dry pipe valve interposed between the water service pipe and the distril'niting pipe, the distrubuting pipe containing an elastic fluid under pressure which normallyrestrains the op eration of the dry pipe valve and the op eration of the latter being conscquent to a reduction of the pressure in the distributing pipe, a casing located immediately in advance of the dry pipe valve and having a vent opening, an auxiliary valve normally closing the vent opening, means operable consequent to a reduction of pressure in the distributing pipe for causing the auxiliary valve to uncover the vent opening, a connec- --tion through which the pressure in the dis tributing pipe passes into the casing when the vent opening'of the latter is. uncovered, and a check valve located in thefdistributmg pipe in advance of said connection.

3. In a pressure controlled fire extingulsher system, in combination, a source of entinguishing liquid supply, a distributing pipe connected'with said source ofsupply and adapted to contain elastic fluid under pressure, a distributing valve in said pipe;.

when the pressure in said. pipe falls below a certain degree, a casing in cun'nnunimtmh with the distributing pipe and having a vent opening, an auxiliary valve which normally closes the vent opening, a yield'z-ible elemeni; operable by a pneumatic impulse and which provides for the operation of the auxiliary valve. the element having air spaces at opposite sides thereof in the distributing pipe and in the casing respectively, and e restricterl communication vbe- 1C tween said respective air spaces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set; my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT L. COONEY. Witnesses S. W. GROW, I H. L. DYER. 

